Deontay Wilder has retained his WBC heavyweight title after a split-decision draw with Britain's Tyson Fury in Los Angeles, leaving both fighters talking up a rematch.
The hard-hitting Wilder knocked Fury down twice in Saturday's bout but the Briton controlled much of the fight behind his long jab and precise footwork while managing to mostly avoid the American's powerful overhand right.
One judge scored the fight 115-111 to Wilder, another 114-112 to Fury and the third had it 113-113.
Both fighters preserved their unbeaten records with the draw at Staples Centre but both thought they had done enough to earn the victory in the bout, which played out before 17,698 fans.
"I think with the two knockdowns I definitely won the fight," said Wilder (40-0-1), adding he started slow and rushed his punches in a sub-par performance.
"We poured our hearts out tonight. We're both warriors but with those two drops I think I won the fight," he said.
"When I rush my punches like that I'm never accurate. The rematch I guarantee I'm going to get him."
Former world champion Fury (27-0-1), in just his third bout since a two-and-a- half year absence from the sport following mental health issues and a failed drug test, was convinced he should have walked away with the title.
After exchanging harsh words in the lead-up to the fight, both men were full of praise for each other following the final bell and were eager for a rematch.
“Boxing is always the theatre of the unexpected, and that’s what we had tonight,” Showtime expert analyst Al Bernstein said.
Bernstein said seeing Fury get up and continue to fight after the brutal knockdown was “one of the most astonishing things I’ve ever seen in the boxing ring.”
Showtime boxing historian and commentator Steve Farhood had Fury controlling the early rounds and Fury winning rounds 3-8, and ultimately scored the fight, 115-111.
2023-10-22 09:31:26
